After being called on to be more transparent about the status of Dustin Johnson, the golf organizer broke it's silence, The Guardian notes. Breaking it's cycle of silence around drug use, the report notes, the tour repudiated rumors about a recent career move by the world number 16's.

In a statement quoted in the same report, PGA Tour clarified that "Mr Johnson has taken a voluntary leave of absence and is not under a suspension from the PGA Tour."

This is after a recent announcement by the golfer that he would temporarily leave golf and seek help for his "personal challenges"--in effect missing the Ryder Cup next month--because of which, people speculated it was all PGA Tour's doing, the report adds. 

The "rich young American star of golf" is confronting recreatonal drugs and alcohol problems on top of a "dumb" attitude outside of his golfing career, the New York Daily News said. It adds that the leave was a good choice. 

It hits the PGA Tour's drug policy, however, particularly its transparency which is dismal compared to other major sports. It cited a Golf.com report that claims the golfer was essentially suspended because he flunked several tests for marijuana and cocaine.

News.com.au would agree. It conceded that the 30-year-old was "wildly talented" but said his sabbatical was not voluntary, per se.

The statement Johnson issued Thursday "to seek professional help for personal challenges I have faced'' was an ultimatum to him so that he cleans up his act, the report claimed. Outside of the drug problem, there's also rumor of an affair with at least one fellow PGA Tour pro's wife.

The golfer is "one of the longest and straightest drivers of the ball," it said, but the Golf.com report said that was not enough to keep him after a failed third drug test.

In March 2009, he was charged with DUI near his hometown in Horry County, South Carolina with the incident caught on tape, Radar Online said. 

Then 24, he is seen exiting his SUV as police pulled his car up. He then fails the field sobriety test, stumbling multiple times, according to the report.

According to Golf Digest, Johnson's announcement, via his agent, cuts short a momentum of a win, two runner-up and seven Top 10 placements. Other than the Ryder Cup, he would also not join the PGA Championship and the FedEx Cup playoffs. 

However, the report noted, his peers on Friday said it was all for his own good. "I said yesterday that I just hope he figures out whatever he needs to do, whatever it is," said Masters champion Bubba Watson, as quoted by Golf Digest.